Lafayette Doctors

Could Over Exertion be Causing Post Tummy Tuck Swelling?

I am a single mom with three young kids that have me on the go. I had a full TT 6 weeks ago but I am still very swollen from belly button down. I wear my compression garmet 24/7, I also take arnica on a daily basis, along with vitamins and drink plenty of fluids. But since about week 3 I have had no choice but to do laundry, go up and downstairs, bath my kids, etc. Could this be a reason for the swelling? Thanks!

A: swelling after tummy tuck may last up to a year Swelling of the lower abdomen is entirely normal at 6 weeks post op. Of course you need to be active with 3 young children, and it is great that you feel well enough to do your regular activities, as demanding as they are. Swelling, particularly in the lower abdomen will fluctuate with activity and often be worse in the evening than in the morning. This will improve over time. As long as the incision is healing and your surgeon does not feel there is a collection of fluid under the skin in this area, what you are experiencing is normal and will resolve.

Pleating After Tummy Tuck- Options? (photo)

I had a tummy tuck along with breast augmentation and lift performed on October 27th 2011. Im extremely concerned about my scar. I'm in the fitness industry and I specifically said this was my biggest concern. I seem to have dog ears on each side and pleating of the skin, badly. My doctor keeps saying "in time" this will smooth out..I live out of country due to military so this is not something I can just come back in 6 months to fix. Should I ask for a revision in office before leaving in Jan?

A: Early irregularities in tummy tuck scar often resolve on their own

Scars from tummy tuck can look pretty worrisome early on.  You are less than 2 weeks postop when these photos were taken and I can certainly see the pleating and dog ears you are concerned about.  However, you are very early in the healing process.  At this stage, things are very swollen, and swelling can make those pleats look pronounced and the dog ears look humongous.  It is very probable that you will smooth out nicely over time as the healing progresses.  I do understand your concern about living abroad and not being able to easily get a scar revision later.  However, reoperating this early with this amount of swelling and inflammation of the tissues may be really difficult and I would not do it.  I do believe that the majority of this will resolve on its own with time. 

Can I Still Play Full-contact Sports After a Tummy Tuck?

Can I get a tummy tuck and still play competitive full-contact sports with no pain or fear of damage? (Never had children, this procedure is to remove loose skin from having been overweight for birth to age 18.) Some of the doctors I've met have describe suturing muscles to create internal corsets as part of the procedure where others have not mentioned so much of this. Would one of these options be better than the other in terms of playing sports? Thank you for your time and help.

A: Tummy tuck patients can return to full exercise after healing

Congrats on your weight loss!  Tummy tuck involves the removal of excess, loose skin and the tightening of the separated muscles of the belly wall.  By far, the muscle tightening takes longer than the skin to heal in terms of returning to your regular exercise activity.  Even so, after healing, you should be able to return to your full contact athletics.  If you have not had full term pregnancies, the muscles may actually be in good position, and muscle tightening may not even be necessary.